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Fernando Alonso takes his Renault-powered McLaren through practice on Friday in China. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Fernando Alonso is happy with decision to stay at McLaren F1

Manager says he'd rather see two-time champion at Ferrari or Mercedes

April 13, 2018

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Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso is a much happier camper so far this season.

After blaming Honda power for his woeful performance between 2015 and 2017 (no podium finishes since 2014), McLaren now is powered by Renault and working to keep up with Honda-powered Toro Rosso. Alonso is making the most of the change, however, and is sitting in fourth place in the Formula 1 drivers' standings after finishing fifth in Australia and seventh in Bahrain.

Still, Alonso's management boss, Flavio Briatore, said on Italian radio this week that he would like to see Alonso in a Ferrari or a Mercedes.

"Flavio wants the best for me in terms of results," Alonso told the Spanish AS newspaper. "In the last two or three years, there were three teams ahead of the others, so I understand his comments. But I'm happy where I am now. I think there are many things that we will change and we will become more competitive. So I think that in the next couple of months, the place to be is McLaren.

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Alonso said those who thought moving from Honda to Renault would be the magic bullet for McLaren were deluding themselves.

"Some of the expectations were unrealistic," he said. "I don't know how we can conjure marvelous things when the rules are stable. For me, dreams do not count, facts do. And if you look at them in peace, I realize: we had a good start to the season."

As for why McLaren is still so slow on the straight even after dumping Honda, Alonso answered: "We need to understand why. We have a Renault power unit, as other teams do. Perhaps the difference is due to the settings or the design of the car, but I'm sure that in the next few races we will find a solution."